Awareness about HIV/AIDS low among people in rural areas

Awareness about HIV/AIDS is still low among people living in the rural areas, especially among girls, according to an official report. The Behavioural Surveillance Survey (BSS) points out that awareness level among the Injected Drug Users (IDUs) have decreased since 2001 in major metros like Delhi and Mumbai.

"The BSS 2006 shows an increase in the levels of knowledge, however, the levels are still very low in rural areas, especially amongst the girls," said the report 'Children and AIDS: Programme Update India', released yesterday after the Policy Framework for Children and AIDS India was announced. The report, which compares the data of 2001 and 2006, shows sex workers had more awareness about the disease now as compared to 2001.

"The sex workers data for 2006 shows relatively high levels of knowledge regarding HIV prevention, however, in Karnataka and Manipur the levels of knowledge are comparatively low," it said.

The BSS survey done by National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) in 2006 among 40,000 people in the age group of 15-29 shows that awareness level amongst IDUs in Delhi and Mumbai has dipped from 2001.

"The two data sets show an increase in levels of knowledge regarding prevention of HIV/AIDS across most major metros, except in case of Delhi and Mumbai where one actually sees a decrease," the report said.

Awareness levels among this segment in Chennai and Bangalore have gone up, it said.

As per the National AIDS Control Programme -3, the government has earmarked 10 per cent of the total budget of Rs 11,000 for awareness campaigns on HIV/AIDS